AFL Central Murray and Golden Rivers league clubs are reaping the rewards after receiving $73,607 as part of AFL and the Victorian State Government's $18 million investment into Victorian country football from 2020-2022.

The three-year funding is the largest investment in Victorian country football in more than two decades.

As part of the initiatives, clubs and volunteers will receive immediate financial relief to ensure the long-term sustainability of the game through the growth of grassroots participation.

All AFL Victoria affiliation fees will be removed, saving country football clubs $3.22 million each year.

Umpire registration fees will be abolished and club apparel will be heavily reduced.

Volunteers will also receive $950,000 worth of support, including the launch of a digital portal and face-to-face support system.

Region Administration Centres (RACs) will receive increased resources with two integrity officers to also be appointed.

They'll assist with policy development and investigate matters in safeguarding children, vilification and social media breaches.

The next generation of players, umpires and coaches will also have focus with $330,000 dedicated to the introduction of Village Hubs.

Village Hubs will be be launched in select regions to align local schools, community groups and AFL clubs together.

The AFL will also invest $1.5 million towards establishing a Strategic Community Investment Fund which will allow flexibility and immediate response to local league and club needs.

AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan said that the increased funding would lay the foundation for a strong future for country football.

"Local football clubs are often the heart of local communities, especially here in Victoria." McLachlan said.

"Community football is the cornerstone of our game and underpins all aspects of our national sport.

"We understand the challenges faced in Victorian country football communities, especially with a change in demographics and community expectations, so it's vital we continue to invest our support into volunteers, coaches, players, facilities and umpires who are the lifeblood of regional communities.

"This funding, when coupled with the support already in place through the work of AFL Victoria, provides a platform for long-term growth in community football and an opportunity to reboot the community that fuels the game at the grassroots level."

Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Martin Pakula said this is a great initiative for grassroots footy.

"I'm really pleased the government is able to play a part in supporting our hard-working volunteers and players across the state," Pakula said.

Football in Victoria has continued to experience rising participation figures, with 474,633 participants, 1,223 clubs and 89 leagues recorded in 2018.

Community football participation in Victoria increased by four per cent in 2018 and the state's female participation rates have tripled over the past three years to surpass 1000 registered female teams for the first time in 2019.

Overall, country football clubs make up for over half of total participation numbers in Victoria and grassroots fundraising has always been a focus to support clubs around the nation.

In partnership with the AFL, Toyota Australia has also been helping local football clubs with a grassroots funding initiative, the Toyota Good for Footy Raffle.

Established in 2008, the Toyota Good for Footy Raffle has helped local football clubs raise in excess of $5.7 million, including 365 clubs last year that received more than $620,000 which went towards a number of initiatives including facility upgrades and new equipment to help make the game more accessible to all.

The Victorian Community Football Investment plan will roll out in January 2020 and continue for three years, supporting the AFL's commitment to growing community football at a grassroots level around Australia.

AFL Central Murray football development manager David Alderuccio said the funding helps his role of supporting clubs and helping them become sustainable for the future.

"Every little bit helps and AFL have worked hard and it's been one of their key pillars the last 12-18 months to look after community football, so it's a great thing both AFL and AFL Victoria are backing," Alderuccio said.